Separating table



Jan. 6, 1942. H. M. CARTER ET AL S-EPARATING TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 12, 1939 INVENTOR HENRY n4. CARTER Y W/L L //4M 14 ('14P TEE W kW ATTORNEYS Jan. 6, 1942. H. M. CARTER ET AL SEPARATING, TABLE Filed July 12, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR HENRY M CHPTE'R WILL/4M n! CARTER ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 6, 1942 OFFICE SEPARATING TABLE Henry M. Carter and William W. Carter,

Brundidge, Ala.

Application July 12, 1939, Serial No. 283,945

8 Claims.

This invention relates to separating apparatus, and particularly to apparatus for separating shelled peanuts, beans and other more or less rounded seeds from accompanying materials of different specific gravities, and has for some of its objects the provision of apparatus of the character designated which shall be adapted to subject the seeds to successive treatments in separate stages on a single deck; to provide-means for propelling the rounded objects over the deck without resort to roughening the deck surface; to provide a pervious deck whereon a relative deep bed of the material being treated is maintained and stratified according to its specific gravity by air flotation and gravity means, and the lighter material removed in successive stages; and to provide novel means whereby the air is so introduced through the pervious deck that it aids in causing the lighter constituent material to separate from the heavy and to move laterally off of the deck.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a deck which is divided into a plurality of separate relatively short stages or sections in the direction of material flow, with each section embodying a separate treatment zone, and to provide a vertical wall at the beginning of each section to engage and propel peanuts or other rounded particles of a mass forwardly over the deck surface of that section.

Another object of our invention is to provide separating apparatus comprising an air pervious deck divided into separate sections in the direction of material movement and in which the deck surface on each section rises laterally and transversely to provide a high corner in the delivery zone for heavy material in each section, thereby further aiding in separating the heavy from the lighter constituent material of the mass.

A still further object of our invention is to provide apparatus of the character designated which shall be simple of design, economical of manufacture, and efficient in operation.

The apparatus of our invention is particularly adapted for the separation of the constituents of a mass comprising shelled peanuts, beans, and like rounded particles into their lighter and heavier constituents. Asis well known in this art, in the separation of such rounded particles difficulties have been encountered due to the ened. surface on the deck to catch and propel the rounded objects in their treatment thereon.

Peanuts, when brought from the field, are put through a sheller, which cracks the shells and delivers a mixture of nuts and shells to a screening unit, where the shells are separated from the nuts by an ordinary sifting action. The product resulting from this sifting or screening is a mixture of whole nuts, split nuts, nubbins, or small above the whole nuts, and. the nubbins, or lighter this difliculty, including the provision of a roughmaterial, being on top. The construction of the deck is such that the whole nuts and splits are caused to take separate paths and be discharged separately, while the lighter material, or nubbins, are skimmed off and discharged at one side of the table. At the beginning of each section or stage of the deck, there is a vertical wall or abutment which engages the rounded nuts and propels them forwardly as the table is'reciprocated. Inasmuch as each treatment section is relatively short, the movement of the rounded nuts forwardly over the table is thus effected.

Apparatus embodying. features of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a separating table constructed in accordance with our invention;

, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a detail view, showing a means of mounting the table on its supports;

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views taken along the lines IVIV and V-V of Fig. 1 respectively; and

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings for a better understanding of our invention, we show a separating table II) which is adjustably mounted by means of angles I I and I2 at one end, and similar angles I3 and I4 at the other end thereof. The angles II and I3 are provided with vertical slots I6 and adjusting'bolts I1 and I8 pass through the angles I2 and I4 and. the slots I6, whereby the table is mounted for vertical and angular adjustment to suit the material being separated.

The angles I2 and M are secured to frame members l9 and 2i, which are grooved on the underside, as shown, to receive the upper ends of oscillating supports 22 and 23. The lower ends of the oscillating supports 22 and 23 are mounted in grooved supports 24 and 26, which are secured to sills 2'! and 28. A leaf spring 29 has one end secured to the sill 21, the other end receiving an elongated bolt 3| secured at its upper end to an angle member 32 on the bottom of the separating table I0, whereby the table is held down on the oscillating supports 22 and 23 and limited in its movement on said supports. Reciprocatory movement is imparted to the table by any suitable means, indicated diagrammatically by an eccentric 33 and connecting rod 34.

The upper, or deck surface of the table Ill is divided transversely of the direction of reciprocation and movement of material thereover,-into a plurality of separate stages or treatment sections 35, 3'! and 38. The section 36, is provided with an end wall 39, and a side wall 4!. Material to be separated is fed on to the table through a feed spout 42 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and moves toward the opposite end of the table through sections 33, 37 and 38, receiving three separating treatments en route. At the delivery end of the section 36 is a skimmer bar 43 which is adjustably mounted by means of bolts 44 passing therethrough, and springs 46 surrounding the bolts beneath the skimmer bar. Manually operable nuts 41 provide means for adjusting the height of the skimmer bar with respect to the deck surface. The function of the skimmer bar 43 is to cause the light constituent material in the mass to move laterally across the table, and its lower edge is located a sufficient height above the-surface of the deck to permit the heavier material to pass underneath to the next treatment section.

The treatment sections 31 and 38 are similar in their details of constructionto thesection 36. The sec tio n 3l has a side wall 48, andthe section 38 has a side wall 43. The sections 3'! and 33 are laterally oifset with respect to the section 36 and guides i and 52 are provided at the end of the sections 36 and 31 to cause the material to travel more, readily into the succeeding section without banking up in the corners. Each of the sections-31 and 38 is provided at its delivery end with a skimmer bar 43.

The construction, of the deck surface in each section can best be understood by reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 6. As will be seen from Fig. 5, the deck surface is comprised of an air pervious member 53 which is shown as a smooth metalp-late so perforated as to permit the free passage of sufiicient air for eifecting stratification of the material on the table by air flotation. The air pervious member is supported by means of longitudinally extending strips 54 arranged beneath the deck and rises gradually from the material receiving end and the side of each section to a high corner 56 at the delivery end of eachsection, which corner is immediately beneath the skimmer bar for that section. Immediately succeeding the high corner is a vertical wall 51 which'is relatively high (around oneinch) near the corner, and which gradually reduces in height until it merges with the surface of the deck at 58, as shown in Fig. 4. The purpose of this vertical wall will be explained more particularly hereafter. I

Extending longitudinally of each section of the deck, and stopping just short of the skimmer bar 43 in each section, are a plurality of rifiies 59 which are preferably made adjustable as to height by means of sheet metal strips 6| folded over and placed astride each rifiie to frictionally engage it and remain in whatever adjusted position they are placed. The rifiles 59, as shown in the draw ing, are higher on the low side of the deck. A nubbin baffle 62, which is higher than the rifiles 59, extends diagonally of the table from end to end on the low side thereof, passing beneath the skimmer bars 43, which latter are notched as at 60 to permit the passage of the bafiie. This nubbin baffle forms in effect one side of the table, and in cooperation with the skimmer bars and the opposite side of the table, is an element for effecting the maintenance of a relatively deep bed of material on the table. The lighter constituent material, such as peanut nubbins and light trash, passes over the nubbin baffle, 5.2; in. the perat n th b and is delivered off the. side of the table through a lightv material delivery spout 63. The next lighter constituent material, such as split peanuts, moves to, thelow side of thetable responsive, to the action of the table and is retained on the table by means of t e bb n ba .2- t passes su cessively. ov r the treatment sections and is guided to, an outlet 64 for intermediate weight material. The heavier constituent material is maintained between the riflies 5 9 and is delivered off the table through a heavier material outlet 66. The surface of; the deck between the outer riiiie 59 in eachsection and the nubbin baffle 6-2 is blanked off or. made non-pervious, as by means of a plate 61, as shown in Figs. 4. and 5, whereby intermediate, constituent material, after'passing over'the last or out:- side rifile in its travel over the table, is no longer; subjected to air passing upwardly through, the table.

The underside of the table is constructed, as shown, in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, of sides 68 and bottom 1 I, on which latter the supporting strips 5.,4 r es t. There is thus formed-an, air chamber beneathlthe air pervious deck 53. Division strips or blocks 121 may be inserted between the supportingmembers 54 at the end of. each treatment section, as shownin Fig. 6, to provide a separate air chamber: under each section. Air under pressure for'the air chamber is supplied from a fan, 13; through a main duct 14 and branch ducts 76-, Hand 18 leading to the airchambers beneath the sepa: rate treatment sections. Individual dampers-1,9 in each of the branch ducts controlthe supply of: air to .eachseparate section. We have foundthatin some instances the blocks 12 may be omitted, but if the material being sep arated requires; a dif; ferent pressure for each section they should; be provided.

By reference to Figs., 1 and; 5.,it will beseen' that the air ducts TI and 13, are laterally, ofiset.

at their upper ends with respect toth-e-ducts 16.. We have found that this lateral offset or -inclination to the ducts H and; 18 has an important. effect in aiding-the lighter constituentmaterial;

to move laterally of the table in the directionof; the light material outlet 53.

It willalso be observed, by reference-gto; Figs; 2, and 6 of the drawings, that the air ducts .15--, 17;

than the section 38.

travel of the heavierconstituent, the, air current tends to hold backand separate the'light'er materialtherefrom. It will also bejseen, byfreference .to Fig. 6, that the duct 16 is spaced a considerable distance fromthe rear or material re-. ceiving end'of the table, so that the full force of the air being discharged through said duct'bee neath the table does not act upon the material first being fed on to the table. the deck may also have fewer perforations or be laminated by providing an additional perforated sheet-15 under the deck to restrict to a .greater.

degree the flow of air through that portion of the deck. The material first being fed on to the table accordingly is first stratified by. gravity more thanby air. flotation, theheavyfraction settling down next to the deck surface. As :the mass is propelled forwardly due to reciprocation of the table, it meets the relatively heavier blast of air passing upwardly and rearwardly through the duct 16, which tends to hold thelight material back, as just described. The material on the table is thus stratified in the order of whole nuts next to the deck, splits nuts just above the whole nuts, and nubbins and light trash on top of the split nuts.

In operation, the table is reciprocated in the The verdirection shown bythe arrow in Fig. 1. tical wall 39 at the beginning of section 36 engages the round whole nuts at the bottom of the mass as they are fed on the table through the spout 42. Theoscillating supports 22 and 23'being inclined, the rounded nuts are engaged by the wall 39 and pitched forwardly at each reciprocation of the table. As the rounded nuts are propelled forwardly away from the wall 39, others drop in behind to take the places of those forced away. Inasmuch as the sections 36, 31 and 38 are made relatively short, preferably from eight to twenty-four inches, there is no difliculty in propelling the round nuts over the smooth surface of the'pervious deck on one section. The heavy constituent material delivered from the section 36 beneath the skimmer 43 on to the secreason of engagement of the vertical Wallstherewith at the beginning of each section. The high side walls, the skimmer bars 43, and the nubbin baflle B2 insure that a relatively deep bed of material will be on each treatment section at all times.

The light constituent material is first engaged by the first skimmer 43 and the major portion thereof moves laterally over the bafile 62 to the light material outlet 63. The lateral inclination of the deck from the high corner 56 aids in effecting this lateral movement of the light material. Inasmuch as morematerial is handled by the treatment section 36 of the table, it may be made longer than the section 31. For the same reason the section 31 may be made longer In the treatment of the mass of material on the deck, the intermediate constituent material, or split nuts, gradually gravitate to the low side of the deck against the nubbin baille 62, and are moved forwardly over the deck against said bafile to the outlet 64 for intermediate weight material.

We have found that our improved apparatus,

That section of though extremely simple and economical of construction, is highly efiicient in operation, and

that it is capable of efiecting very close separation of a mass of material, especially peanuts, into its, constituent weight materials.

We Wish it to be understood that we ,do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, but obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. l

' What we claim is:

-1. Apparatus of the character described comprising an'air pervious reciprocatory deck having side walls and an end wall across the feed end and divided in the direction of travel of material thereover into a plurality of treatment sections each of which is from to 8 to 24 inches in length, the surface of. the deck in each section rising similarly from a common level to one forward corner thereof to produce a corresponding high corner at the delivery endof each treatment section, means to reciprocate the deck, riffles on each section of the deck extending in the direction of reciprocation and increasing in height from the high'to the low side of the deck, said rifiles being adapted to discharge material caught thereby onto the succeeding section for further treatment, a skimmer for delivering light material off the low-side extending transversely of the deck at the delivery end of each section, and means to blow air upwardly through each section of the deck.

. v2. Apparatus of the character described comprising an air pervious reciprocatory deck having side walls and an end wall across the feed end and divided in thedirection of travel of material thereover into a plurality of treatment sections, the surface of the deck in each section rising similarly from a common level to one forward corner thereof to produce a corresponding high corner at the delivery end of each treatment section, means to reciprocate the deck, rifiies on The heavy coneach section of the deck extending in the direction of reciprocation and adapted to discharge material caught thereby onto .the next succeeding treatment section, a skimmer for delivering light material off the low side extending transversely of the deck at the delivery end of each section, means to blow airupwardly through each section of the deck and inclined toward the material receiving end of said section, and a vertical wall at the entrance end of each section to engage and propel the heavy particles forwardly and deliver the same from the end of the table opposite the feed end as the table is reciprocated.

3. A separating apparatus comprising a table having an air pervious deck divided into stages each constituting a separating unit of from 8 to 24 inches in length, the deck in each unit sloping upwardly, forwardly and transversely to provide a corresponding high corner at the delivery end of each separating section, means to feed material on to the table at one end, means to deliver heavy material from the opposite end, means to reciprocate the table, riflies on each section extending parallel to the direction of reciprocation and adapted to discharge material caught thereby onto the succeeding treatment section, a baflie member extending along the low side of the table, and askimmer for light material extending across the table at the delivery end of each section.

4. A separating apparatus comprising a table having an air pervious deck divided into stages each constituting a separating unit of from 8 to 24 inches in length, the deck in each unit sloping upwardly, forwardly and transversely to provide a corresponding high corner at the delivery end of each separating section, means to feed material on to the table at one end, means to deliver the heavy component of the material from the opposite end, means to reciprocate the table, riflies on each section extending parallel to the direction of reciprocation and adapted to deliver material caught thereby onto the succeeding treatment section, a baffle member extending along the low side of the table, a skimmer for light material extending across the table at the delivery end of each section, and a vertical propelling wall at the material receiving end of each section. V

5. A separator table comprising an air pervious deck adapted to receive a conglomerated mass of material at the rear end and discharge separately masses of material of like specific gravity at the forward end and along a side, means to reciprocate the table longitudinally, means dividing the deck into separate short treatment sections each of which is from 8 to 24 inches in length and adapted to act on the rear end of a stratum of material lying adjacent the deck and push particles at the forward end of the stratum on to the next treatment section, a high corner on each deck section opposite the discharge side of the deck, spaced riflies on each section extending parallel to the direction of reciprocation and adapted to prevent sidewise discharge of the stratum of material, deck dividing means to skim off low specific gravity materials, and means to supply air upwardly to each section.

6. A deep bed separator table for peanuts and the like, comprising an air pervious deck divided into a plurality of treatment sections, means forming a high corner on the deck sections adjacent the discharge end of each section, an end wall at the feed end of the first section, walls of less height than the end wall running transversely of the deck at the discharge end of the other treatment sections, a skimmer for light materials over each of the latter mentioned walls and adapted to discharge light materials over the side of the table opposite the high corner side, riiiles on each section extending parallel to the direction of reciprocation and adapted to discharge material caught thereby onto. the succeeding section, a nubbin baflle extending diagonally over a section of the deck in position to discharge nubbins over the same side of the table as the light materials, means to prevent air from flowing through that area of the deck defined by the nubbin baffle and the discharge side, means to reciprocate the deck, means to blow air vertically upward through the first treatment section, and means to blow air upwardly and inclined toward the low side through the other sections.

7. A separator table for peanuts and the like, comprising a deck surface divided into a plurality of treatment sections of from 8 to 24 inches in length, the feed ends. of which are at a common level, means to reciprocate the table longitudinally, a high corner on each section formed by transversely and longitudinally sloping the deck surface upwardly to a common point at the dis charge end, rifiles on each section extending parallel to the direction of reciprocation and adapted to discharge material caught thereby onto the next treatment section, a vertical wall joining the discharge end of each section to the feed end of the succeeding section, a skimmer bar over the junctions of the sections to discharge light materials over the side of the table opposite the high corner, a high end wall at the feed end of the first section, a nubbin bafile extending diagonally over a section of the deck in position to discharge nubbins along with the light materials, and means to force air upwardly through the deck.

8. Apparatus of the character described comprising an air pervious reciprocatory deck having side walls and an end Wall across the feed end and divided in the direction of travel of material thereover into a plurality of treatment sections each of which is from eight to twenty-four inches in length, the surface of the deck in each section rising similarly from a common level to one forward corner thereof to produce a corresponding high corner at the delivery end of each treatment section, means to reciprocate the deck, rifiles on each section of the deck extending in the direction of reciprocation and adapted to discharge material caught thereby onto the next succeeding section for further treatment, a skimmer for delivering light material off the low side extending transversely of the deck at the delivery end of each section, and means for conducting a blast of air upwardly through each section of the deck, said blast conducting means for each section, except the section onto which the material is initially fed, being inclined laterally oppositely to the inclination of the deck surface forming said high corner.

HENRY M. CARTER.

WILLIAM W. CARTER. 

